因想这事非常,若说出来,奸盗相连,关系人命,还保不住带累了旁人。
She began to consider what the consequences would be if she were to tell anyone.
A crime involving both sexual delinquency and illicit entry could cost the offenders their lives - and other persons might well be implicated.
回房复了贾母的命,大家安息不提。
And so, when she got back to Grandmother Jia's apartment, she gave only a routine account of her mission and went to bed without telling anyone about her experience.
从此凡晚间便不大往,中来。
After this Yuanyang seldom went to the Garden after dark;
因思园中尚有这样奇事,何况别处,因此连别处也不大轻走动了。
and reflecting that if even the Garden was the scene of such strange carryings-on, other places must be still worse, she went nowhere else either if she could avoid it.
近年大了,彼此又出落的品貌风流,时常司棋回家时,二人眉来眼去,旧情不忘,只不能入手。
Significant looks would pass between them when they saw each other during Chess's occasional visits home, and they knew, without needing to tell each other, that the childhood bond between them was as strong as ever.
又彼此生怕父母不从,二人便设法,彼此里外买嘱园内老婆子们,留门看道。
As they were both dreadfully afraid that their parents would oppose their meeting, they contrived - he working on his side and she on hers - to buy the support of the Garden women, so that gates might be left conveniently unbarred and notice obligingly be given when the coast was clear;
今日趁乱方初次入港,虽未成双,却也海誓山盟,私传表记,已有无限风情了。
They had not yet reached the point of physical union when Faithful surprised them, but they had exchanged vows and keepsakes and passionate endearments and were not far off it.
忽被鸳鸯惊散,那小厥早穿花度柳,从角门出去了。
Their sudden discovery by Yuanyang had made the boy run off through the flowers and willows to slip out by the side gate.
至次日见了鸳鸯,自是脸上一红一白,百般过不去,心内怀着鬼胎,茶饭无心,起坐恍惚。
The next day when she saw Yuanyang she turned red and white by turns in an agony of embarrassment and guilt.
这日晚间,忽有个婆子来悄告诉他道:"你兄弟竟逃走了,三四天没归家。
But then one morning one of the old women from the Garden gate came round and whispered some news to her. ‘Your cousin's run away.
He hasn't been home now for three or four days.
司棋听了,又急又气又伤心,因想道:“纵然闹出来,也该死在一处。
Distraught by this news Siqi thought, “Even if there's a scandal we ought to die together.
次日便觉心内不快,百般支持不住,一头睡倒,恹恹的成了大病。
that the next day she felt too upset to bear up.
Ill with frustration she took to her bed.
鸳鸯闻知那边无故走了一个小厮,园内司棋又病重,要往外挪,心下料定是二人惧罪之故,"生怕我说出来,方吓到这样。”
When Faithful heard that one of the boys had unaccountably run away and that Chess was so ill that there was already talk of moving her out of the Garden, she was sure that in either case it was fear that she might betray them that had been the cause.
因此,自己反过意不去,指着来望候司棋,支出人去,反自己赌咒发誓,与司棋说:“我若告诉一个人,立刻现死现报!
1So concerned did she feel about this that, on the pretext of paying a sick visit, she went to see Chess and reassure her.
As soon as she could get the others out of the room, she swore a most solemn oath that she would never give her away.
咱们从小儿耳鬓厮磨,你不曾拿我当外人待,我也不敢怠慢了你,如今我虽一着走错了,你若果然不告诉一个人,你就是我的亲娘一样。
We've known each other now since we were little girls.
You have always been nice to me, and I have always respected you.
If you really don't tell anyone about this stupid mistake of mine, I promise to honour you as if you were my mother.
如今我虽一着走错,你若果然不告诉一个人,你就是我亲娘一样。
Now if you'll really keep my slip-up a secret, I shall look on you as my own mother
再俗语说: ‘千里搭长棚,没有不散的筵席。’
‘Even the longest feast must break up at last,' says the proverb.
俗语又说: ‘浮萍尚有相逢日,人岂全无见面时。’
Still, ‘even floating weeds may come together again, much more so human beings.'
因知贾琏不在家中,又因这两日见凤姐声色怠惰了些,不似往日一样,因顺路儿也来望候。
Faithful had noticed that Xi-feng had been somewhat off colour during these past few days.
She happened to know that Jia Lian was out and thought she might as well drop in on Xi-feng on her way back and ask how she was.
因进人凤姐院中来,二门上的人见是他来,便立身待他进来。
When she entered the courtyard the servants at the inner gate stood up to let her in,
鸳鸯刚至堂屋中,只见平儿从里间出来,见了他来,便忙上来悄声笑道:"才吃了一口饭歇了午睡,你且别屋里坐着。”
and as she stepped into the hail Pinger came out of the bedroom and approached her. “She's just had a bite to eat and is having a nap,” Pinger whispered. “Won't you wait in the other room for a while?”
鸳鸯听了,只得同平儿到东边房里来。
At her insistence Faithful accompanied her into the room on the east side of the reception room and sat down with her.
鸳鸯因悄问:"你奶奶这两日是怎么了?
‘Tell me, what's been the matter with your mistress during these past few days?” said Faithful.
平儿见房内无人,便叹道:"他这懒懒的也不止今日了,这有一月之前便是这样。
Patience sighed. ‘It's not just these last few days,' she said, having first looked round to make sure that no one else was within hearing.